Welcome to Berlin-Brandenburg! The German capital city and the surrounding region compose the German Capital Region. About six million people live here - more than in Denmark, Norway or Finland - on a territory that extends over 30,000 square kilometers - as large as Belgium.
At the Crossing of Major International Roads
Berlin-Brandenburg is located between the Western European business locations and the emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe. Whether Paris or Warsaw, Amsterdam or Minsk: the German Capital Region is right in the middle of the continent.
Important trans-European roads - including Paris–Warsaw–Moscow and Stockholm–Prague–Vienna - pass through the region. Companies based here can deliver products to all major European markets within one day’s transport.
Rapid Connections in All Directions
Brandenburg’s infrastructure was considerably improved since German reunification. Each of the region’s business locations has distinctive assets and enjoys rapid connections to both Berlin and the new Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport (BBI) thank of the ring autobahn.
Brandenburg Attracts Investors
As much as 125 companies invested in Brandenburg in 2008. In the recent past, more than three hundred international businesses decided to operate branches here - and are satisfied with their decisions. In an opinion poll, they underscore the workforce quality (83%), the high productivity (82%), the good infrastructure (70%), the investment incentives (65%) and the perfect collaboration with the local authorities, the business promotion agencies and InvestitionsBank (63%).
R&D Environment
Nowhere else in Germany is the concentration of R&D institutes as high as in Berlin-Brandenburg. With some 50,000 scientists working in seven universities, twenty-one institutes of technology s and 250 private R&D institutes, the German Capital Region offers optimal cooperation opportunities.
Skilled Junior Employees
With approx. 180,000 students and some 19,000 new graduates on the job market each year, the region’s universities and institutes of technology cater for skilled junior employees in virtually all industries, from biotechnology to aeronautics to renewable energy. The proportion of foreign students is particularly high in Berlin-Brandenburg (25% at BTU Cottbus and even 40% at Europa-Universität Viadrina).
Investments Pay Off in Berlin-Brandenburg
Highly skilled workforce, high productivity, state-of-the-art infrastructure, a rich R&D environment as well as longer and more flexible working hours than in other German regions guarantee that investments pay off in the region.
Moreover, Berlin-Brandenburg enjoys a series of location assets, including a particularly favorable real-estate market, Germany’s lowest trade and land tax rates and Europe’s best investment incentives. In a word: an interesting investment location.
Brandenburg Invests in the Future
Brandenburg’s economic policy focuses on growth, value added and sustainability. Businesses in growth industries enjoy particular investment incentives (up to 50% of the investment amount for small businesses, 40% for mid-sized companies and 30% for large businesses).
Brandenburg also supports R&D projects (up to 80% for small businesses, 75% for mid-sized companies and 65% for large businesses) as well as cooperation projects involving regional companies and R&D institutes.
Quality of Life
Last but not least, the German Capital Region offers excellent conditions not only for working, but also for enjoying life. This comes as no surprise, as Berlin-Brandenburg boasts a clean environment with plenty of green spaces, Europe’s largest interconnected lake ensemble and a rich cultural landscape with excellent leisure-time opportunities. Living in green surroundings, by the water or in an historic building: every dream comes true in Brandenburg! And Berlin, one of the world’s most exciting cities, is only a stone’s throw away.